YWCA Canberra’s Executive Director, Frances Crimmins, spoke at the Canberra Women’s March on January 21, calling for more to be done to address the gender inequality and discrimination issues that many Canberra women continue to face. The event brought hundreds of Canberrans together in solidarity with women around the world, as part of a peaceful and inclusive global demonstration in defence of women’s rights, health and safety.

Photo credit: Jude Burger, YWCA Canberra President

Below is a transcript of Frances’ speech, as delivered at the march.

Hello wonderful people of Canberra,

I would like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land and pay my respects to their elders past and present. I’d also like to acknowledge any Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who are here with us today.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak briefly with you all at this important gathering of solidarity and equality.

I note that my white, able-bodied privilege frames my values and opinions. I have a safe home to live in, I have two children, a loving partner and family, I live well.

I like to draw attention to this privileged position when I speak publicly, as it’s something that is often overlooked by people who are lucky enough to possess it.

This includes people in positions of power, who have the ability to address the complex intersections of disadvantage experienced by many people in our community – be it due to their gender identity, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental capability, or simply their appearance.

As the Executive Director of YWCA Canberra, one of the longest standing women’s organisation in the ACT, I have the privilege of continuing the work of the wonderful Y women who came before me, who worked tirelessly for the last 87 years to make this town a more equal, safe and inclusive place for all.

Our vision is “women shaping our communities”.

Why? Because we know that when women hold positions of leadership in our governments, businesses, families and communities – everyone is better off. But more on that in just a moment.

It’s important to point out, on an occasion like this, that we are a member of the Australian YWCA movement, which has representation in every state and territory in the country, (apart from poor Tasmania!), and we’re proudly part of the global YWCA network, which connects 120 countries and 25 million women and girls.

In partnership with the World YWCA, in Geneva, and hundreds of member associations around the globe, we advocate for peace, justice, human rights and care for the environment.

Globally, the YWCA movement has set a goal that “by 2035, 100 million young women and girls will transform power structures to create justice, gender equality, and a world without violence and war.”

At YWCA Canberra, we believe that to achieve this goal, we need to promote and sustain women’s leadership – and push for a gender equal society.

The social and economic case for gender equality is crystal clear – women make up one half of the population and deserve equal access to health, education, economic participation, and decision-making power.

We’re now meeting with government leaders to work through the tangible, evidence-based changes they can make, in order to take a significant step towards a more gender equal society.

Specifically, we are calling on the ACT Government to demonstrate its commitment to gender equality by:

Moving the Office for Women from the Community Services Directorate to the Chief Minister’s Department.

Appropriately resourcing the Office for Women to enable it to play a coordinating role in supporting all Directorates in working towards gender equality, and in ensuring that all legislation and policy contributes to gender equality.

Developing a Gender Equality Act that is based on successful international models and includes tangible quotas and targets.